Adjustable connector for antiskid-chains, &amp;c.



T. B. NODEN.

ADJUSTABLE CONNECTOR FOR ANTISKID CHAINS. 6w.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 13.1915.

Y. a .UIA E d e t m L t nu 1 wihwomw UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. h

THOMAS B. NODEN, or momma, ILLINOIS.

ADJUSTABLE commerce ron anrxsxmecnams, &c.

Patented May 9, Application and December 13,1915. Serial a0. cacao; "i fof the body 1, Attached to said body is a; spring plate 2,"whichpreferably covers one p, of the wide'flat surfaces of the body, 'andj isfastened at one end to the body, p'refer- To all whom it mayconcern: I IBe it known that LTnoM s B. NouEN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Moline, in the'countyof Rock Island and 7 State of Illinois,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in AdjustableConnectors for Antiskid-Chains, &c.; and I hereby declarethat thefollowing is a full,

- clear, and exact description thereof, referinvention is to enableence'being had tow the accompanying drawings, which form part ofthis'specification.

This invention is a novel connector for detachably fastening automobileanti-skid devices to wheels; and the object of this the ends of thefastening chains ofsuch anti-skid devices to be readily 'onnectedtogether, and to provide a connecting-device by which slack in the chaincan be taken up. j

The inventionprovides a fastener which is strong and ad ustable'and canbe easily applied, and as easily detached,by a person; but will notbedetached by blows from exterior objects, or by the shocks and jarsincident to the travel of the wheel over rough roadways.

ynovel connector is especially designed for coupling together non-skidautomobile chains, but might be used for other purposes where anadjustable connection is de sired.

I will explain the invention in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of the con nector asused to connect non-skid chains; Fig. 2 is an enlarged perspective Viewof the connector detached; Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section on line 33Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a transverse section on line -44 Fig. 2.

The connector, as shownin said drawings, comprises a main body portion 1preferably made of steel or annealed iron; said body being. an oblongand rectangular in plan, preferably flat,-wider than it is high, andabout three times as long as it is wide. Said body has at one end ashank portion 1 extending from its bottom, and provided with anupstanding ear -1 perforated as at 1 for the engagement of a link of thechain C of the anti-skid chain or other devices which the connector isto provided with an opening or socket extending from the front end ofthe body toward the shank; said socket being preferably rectangular incross section and conforming approximately in form to the cross sectionfasten. This body 1 is ably by means of a rivet 2*. near the shank 1 asshown. The rear end of this plate 2 is preferably bent downwardl asat2", against the rear end of the body, and its forward endis alsopreferably bent downwardly" over the front edge of the body, above thesocket, as indicated at 2. The

downturned ends of the plate will prevent i slide which telescopeswithin the body 1.

Said slide has a body portion 3, which corresponds in'cross section tothe socket in the body 1, and is adapted to fit easily but securelytherein; and'in said body portion is the series of openin s 3 tudinallythereof. the body any one of said openings can be engaged with the catch2.

The slide has ahead 3 on its outer end approximately corresponding inform to the shank portion 1 of the body, and provided with an ear 3'?having a perforation 3 for engagement with a link 0' of the chain of theanti-skid or other device to be fastened.

The front end of the spring plate 2 may be raised, so as to disengagethe catch 2 from the slide 3, and then the latter can be ad- 'justed inor out of the body 1. For convenience plate 2 may be provided, near itsfront end, with lateral ears 2' which may project slightly beyond thesides of the body,

so that they can be readily engaged by the thumb or fingers of theperson disengage the catch 2 from the slide 3.

In using the connector, the part 1 is attached to one end C of the chainor member to be connected; and the slide 3 to the other end C of suchchain or member.

on used for connecting the fastenings of anti-skid devices forautomobile wheels, after such anti-skid devices are in place the slide 3is entered more or according to the amount of slack in the chain, and issecurely fastened thereto by engagement with the catch 2 on the springthat extend longi; fiy moving the slide in.

desiring to less into the body 1 I be disen agedby striking any-exterlorob-' be'cnnnected, a catch disengage the slide,

plate 2. The pull on erred directly to the body 1. If after theconnector is applied, slack should develop in the chain, the slide canbe pushed farther into the body and take up the slack.

When the connector is applied, exterior pressure on the body only tendsto hold the catch pin more securely in place. As the spring plate liesflat against the body, and is protected. at both ends, it is not liableto jects, an any inward pressure on this plate sim 1y tends to lock'theslide more securely.

' y connector is absolutely proof-against is taken care of by Iclaim is:1 7

1. A connector for "the purpose described comprising a body having alongitudinal socket and provided at one end with'a shank foren'ga'gementwith one of the members. to

' plate fitted on one exterior -side of the body and secured thereto atone end, the free endof said spring plate being bent downwardly over theend of'the,

body opposite the "shank to prevent the" free this catch 'istransend ofsaid catch, said pulling strain vupon the.

. theslide; a slide end of the plate catching on obstructions; a catchattached to said plate near the outer end of the body and projectinginto the body through an adjacent opening therein; and a slidetelescoping saidbody and fitting the socket'therein and provided with aseries of holes adapted to be engaged by the inner slide having a headon its outer end forengagement with the other member to be connected.

2; A connector for the purpose described comprising a body having alongitudinal socketprovided at one end with a perforated shank. forengagement with one of the members to be connected, a spring platefitted to one side of the body and secured thereto at one end, a catchattachedto said plate near the outer end of the body and projectinginto'the body through an adjacent opening in the side Ofth body, saidspring plate being bent downwardly over theend o fthe body opposite theshank to prevent the free end of the plate catchingon obstructions,

to disengagethe catchgfifrom the opening in said body and fitting thesocket thereimand. provided with a series of holes adaptedto be engagedby said catchtsaid slide ahead on its outer end provided with an eye forengagement with the other member] to be connected. l

I In testimony that Lclaim' theforegoing afiix my signature.

as my own, I 4 y v THOMAS B. NODEN.

having a shanktelescoping having I p and said plate being also pro-.vided with laterally projecting ears adjacent the catch whereby saidplatemay be raised

